A Closer Look at 400 Speed Film: Fujifilm 400, Kodak UltraMax, & Lomography 400 by Katya Rowny

Written by Katya Rowny

I have a bit of a thing for 400 speed film. Initially, I thought it was just for UltraMax 400, but reviewing my film scans from years past, I’ve shot numerous rolls of different 400 speed films. So I thought it might be time to take a trip down memory lane and investigate some different 400 speed films for you to try.

Now, this isn’t going to be a complicated comprehensive review, but hopefully substantial enough that the next roll you use might just be one of the ones mentioned below.

An Overview of 400 Speed Film

400 speed film is one of the most versatile film speeds, offering enough sensitivity for everything from sunny days to overcast afternoons and lower-light situations.

It gives you more flexibility than slower ISO 100 or 200 film while still maintaining relatively fine grain.

Films like Fujifilm 400, Kodak UltraMax 400, and Lomography 400 are all ISO 400, but each has its own color, contrast, and personality. The 400 tells you how sensitive the film is to light, not what your photographs will look like.

All three of these films are also color-negative films processed using the C-41 process. That means they can generally be developed by the same color labs, and they’re designed to produce a negative that is then scanned or printed.

Okay, so what’s the difference between them? The film’s emulsion, color-sensitive layers, grain structure, contrast, exposure latitude, and color rendering all contribute to the final image. And then you throw your camera, lens, lighting, exposure, development, and scanning into the mix. That’s why two photographs taken at the same ISO can look completely different.

FujiFilm 400

Fujifilm 400 is a versatile ISO 400 color-negative film designed for everyday shooting. It combines fine, smooth grain with vibrant but natural color, good skin tones, and excellent sharpness. Its wide exposure latitude and higher sensitivity also make it a flexible choice when the lighting isn’t perfect, whether you’re shooting in bright daylight or dealing with lower-light conditions. You can read the datasheet here.

There’s a little bit of folklore history behind Fujifilm 400 that makes this film particularly interesting. When many photographers hear Fuji 400, they think of Fujicolor Superia X-TRA 400, which had a pretty loyal following. But the current Fujifilm 400 is a newer product, introduced in 2023 as a replacement for Superia X-TRA 400 in North America.

The rumors suggest that the current Fuji 400 is actually manufactured by Eastman Kodak. So while the name on the box says Fujifilm, the film itself is part of the complicated world of modern film manufacturing where the company selling the film isn’t necessarily the company making the emulsion. I will not speculate or point fingers, but will say I am grateful to have Fujifilm 400 because I never did fall in love with Fujifilm Superia X-TRA.

Overall, Fujifilm 400 is a well-balanced film that delivers colorful, sharp images without going overboard on saturation. Shooting Supiera X-TRA in years past left a bad taste in my mouth, so I was hesitant to jump on the bandwagon but have since abandoned that fear and added this film stock to my rotation of most used films.

Find Fujifilm 400 on Amazon.

Kodak UltraMax 400

I can’t tell you exactly when my love affair with Kodak UltraMax 400 began, all I know is that it’s been going strong for years. And despite the fact that UltraMax is often treated like the inexpensive, basic consumer film sitting on the bottom shelf, it actually has a pretty interesting history.

Today’s UltraMax can trace its lineage back through Kodak’s Gold family. The 400-speed film appeared under names including Kodacolor Gold 400, Kodak Gold 400, Kodak Max, and eventually UltraMax 400. The name UltraMax was established in 2007. The emulsion has also been revised multiple times over the years, so it’s important to remember that an old roll of Gold 400 isn’t necessarily going to look exactly like today’s UltraMax.

Kodak UltraMax 400 is described as a high-speed, daylight-balanced color-negative film that’s made for everyday photography. It offers fine grain, vivid color, sharp detail, and consistent color reproduction, while its ISO 400 speed gives you plenty of flexibility when the light starts to change. Check out the datasheet here.

It’s also a great choice for spontaneous shooting, helping with lower-light situations, extending flash range, and reducing the effects of camera shake. I have been an UltraMax fan for years and while it is still my go to film for unpredictable weather conditions in the PNW, Fuji 400 is a very close 2nd.

Find Kodak Ultramax on Amazon.

Lomograpy Color Negative 400

Lomography Color Negative 400 is an all-around ISO 400 color-negative film that can handle just about anything you throw at it. It produces vibrant colors and sharp images and works well in everything from bright sunshine to cloudy days, indoors or out. With 36 exposures and standard C-41 processing, it’s an easy, versatile choice for everyday shooting.

There’s also a little bit of interesting film history behind it. Lomography identifies the film as using the legendary Ferrania Solaris emulsion, connecting it to Ferrania’s long history of Italian film manufacturing and the many different names its emulsions have been sold under over the years. Lomography has also worked with different manufacturers and film sources rather than producing every emulsion itself, which makes its lineup interesting—and sometimes a little confusing.

Find Lomography Color Negative 400 at B&H Photo.

Final Thoughts

While all three films are ISO 400, daylight-balanced color-negative films processed using C-41, that doesn’t mean they’ll all look the same. Film is influenced by so many things, from how you expose it and the kind of light you’re shooting in to how the negatives are developed and scanned. A roll of UltraMax shot on a bright, sunny afternoon can look completely different from one shot on a gray, overcast day.

Even the lab can make a difference. Two labs can scan the exact same negatives and come back with noticeably different colors, contrast, and overall results. So when someone says, “This is what this film looks like,” I tend to think of it as a general guideline rather than a guarantee.

If I’m being honest, I wouldn’t want to choose just one 400 speed film. Fujifilm 400 is the balanced, dependable choice, with natural color, fine grain, and plenty of versatility. Lomography 400 is a little more playful, especially when I’m photographing colorful subjects and want those colors to really stand out. And then there’s UltraMax 400—one of my favorite everyday films. Maybe it’s because I’ve shot so much of it, maybe because it doesn’t disappoint often, or maybe I simply love the way it makes ordinary things pop. Whatever the reason, I keep coming back to it.

That’s one of the things I love about shooting film: specifications can tell you the ISO, grain, and technical characteristics, but they can’t tell you which film you’re going to fall in love with. Sometimes you just have to load a roll and find out.

Thank you so much, Katya! Katya is a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film, and you can check out her other articles here, such as 3 More Point-and-Shoot Film Cameras to Add to Your Collection and Point & Shoot Camera Roundup: 3 Film Cameras Worth Checking Out..

You can also find more of Katya’s work on her website, Instagram, and YouTube.

Let us know any questions you have about 400 speed film and your favorites below in the comments, and you can pick up some 400 speed film on Amazon and B&H Photo here: Fujifilm 400, Kodak UltraMax 400, Lomography 400

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Katya Rowny

Katya Rowny is a travel photographer and a regular contributor for Shoot It With Film. Find her other articles here, such as Olympus XA2 Point & Shoot Film Camera Review and Elektra 100 Film Review.

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